Local Food Sourcing
What is Local Food Sourcing?
Usually folks define a food as local if it comes from a limited geographic distance, such as 100 miles. Obtaining food from local sources generally refers to where it is produced. Sometimes the site from which food is distributed and/or processed also plays into the definition of whether it is considered ‘local’. Local food can be found at grocery stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals, community gardens, farm stands, etc.
Why is Local Food Sourcing important?
When sourcing food locally, many consumers would tell you their motivations include taste, freshness, transparency about production, health, and to reward sustainable production practices. In other words, most people want to source local foods to align with their personal values. In the case of restaurants and institutions sourcing local foods, they often make these choices based on consumer demand and product availability.
How Johnson County Local Food Council Works on Local Food Sourcing
Because of the growing interest in local food sourcing, people can buy local foods via so many ways – restaurants, farmers markets, CSAs, online distributors. The Johnson County Local Food Council is here to help in any way we can. This might be helping a restaurant owner start a garden or assisting a school with staff education about cooking local foods. We want to help make connections in our community amongst anyone that grows/processes/distributes food and anyone that eats food.